The Journey begins again

BW has released it's rankings for business schools for 2006. These are the schools that have made the cut for the top 30.

Notably, Haas moved up quite a bit (9 notches) and Cornell dropped 6. Personally, I think Haas got the visibility it deserved. Its a fab school, it deserved much better ranking than it got all these years.

I like apps that give opputunity to display your professional and personal lives in balance. I wanted to begin work on Chicago's app. But given the essays they have, I am finding it difficult to present all aspects of my professional life. They seem to be trying hard to get to know the applicant. The short ans questions are more abt your personality than achievements. Since Rose Martinelli moved to Chicago from Wharton sometime last yr, the changes in their application process are quite visible. I believe her greatest contribution so far has been the admissions forums - they absolutely fabulous! Post a question there and you are sure to get different perspectives from various students and even adcom members within a few hrs! Awesome! Even the essays and interview policy have changed. Last yr the focus wasn't so much on knowing the applicant personally, but this yr the essay questions are more personal in nature: Issue facing humanity, book/play/movie, study group selection - its hard to show your professional side in these questions. "One thing people don't know abt you" still leaves some room for you to do that. I am maha (greatly) confused abt the Chicago app. I guess I need to spend a lot more time introspecting than I have till now... Helps to know I am not the only one, even InBlue is facing the same problem.

I like Ross' essays this yr. Unlike last yr, they are not 100% focused on the professional aspect of your life. That kinda put me off last yr. Notably, they have converted "Professional Leadership" into a "Leadership" essay and "How have you developed professionally" into "How have you developed professionally and personally". Though I have looked at it only peripherally and I am yet to decide upon what to write, I still like it. :)

Yesterday, I was busy firefighting for one of the non-profit projects I work on. The entire day went off in it and I ended up spending not a minute on the essays yest. Hope to be able to catch up a bit today.